Airbag type safety device

ABSTRACT

A safety device associated with a transport, or with its pilot&#39;s body or the body of any other person practising a sport or a hazardous activity to protect the body, includes an inflatable airbag connected to inflating elements automatically or manually activated upon an impact. The airbag has a frame including at least one tubular element for forming a geometrical frame, when the tubular element is inflated, the latter being initially folded in a container integral, for instance, with the transport and/or the human body and connected to the inflating elements and an outer wall made of a flexible material integral with the frame so as to form a closed chamber filled with air at atmospheric pressure, the outer wall including at least one valve.

The invention relates to a safety device, disassociated or integral witha means of transport, with its pilot's body or with the body of anyother person practising a hazardous sport or activity, of “airbag” typewhich is a registered trademark, comprising an airbag made in cloth orlike connected to inflating means automatically or manually activated soas to inflate said airbag at the time of impact.

In the field of airbag type safety devices, we already know of devicescomprising an airbag made in cloth or like connected to inflating meansautomatically or manually activated so as to inflate said airbag at thetime of impact, said device being contained in a casing integral withthe means of transport or in a backpack worn by the pilot of said meansof transport. This is the case, for example, of the German utility modelDE 2.971.7771 describing a protective device to protect the human bodyat the time of impact with an obstacle. The device comprises two airbagsinitially contained in a backpack for example and which is deployed in asemi-cylindrical manner at the time of impact with an obstacle so thatsaid airbags surround the torso, that being the bust of the user. Theairbags are inflated with a compressed air device triggered by ahand-operable rip cord constituted of a cable fitted with a ring at itsloose end. According to an alternative means of operating the device,the airbags are constituted of inflatable longitudinal tubular elementswhich reunite after being inflated to form a frame of overallhemispheric shape surrounding the user of the device.

This type of airbag safety device has the inconvenience of needing, inorder to be inflated, an especially long time and a large volumetriccapacity of compressed air which are not compatible with the reactiontime of about a millisecond, needed for the efficient use of thesedevices, nor with a necessarily limited encumbrance. Furthermore, thealternative means of operating consisting of the inflatable longitudinaltubular elements bearing the inconvenience of not protecting the userbetween two adjacent tubular elements.

One of the purposes of the invention is therefore to overcome all ofthese inconveniences by proposing a safety device comprising a simplydesigned and low cost airbag so as to efficiently protect the human bodyof the user.

For this reason and according to the invention, a safety deviceindependent or integral with a means of transport or with its pilot'sbody is proposed to protect said body, comprising an airbag made incloth or like connected to inflating means automatically or manuallyactivated so as to inflate said airbag at the time of impact; saiddevice is remarkable in that the airbag is constituted, on one hand, ofa frame comprising at least a tubular element so as to form acylindrical, spherical, parallelepiped or like frame, when said tubularelement is inflated, said tubular element being initially folded in acontainer integral, for instance, with the means of transport and/or ahuman body and connected to the inflating means and, on the other hand,of an outer wall made of a flexible material integral with the frame soas to form a closed chamber filled with air at atmospheric pressure,said outer wall comprising at least one valve which opens when the frameis being inflated and which closes at the time of impact.

We fully understand that, contrary to the devices of the prior art, theair contained in the airbag is at atmospheric pressure after the tubularelements have been inflated with compressed air or by pyrotechnic means,said tubular elements forming a frame which then allows to deploy, bymeans of a bottle of compressed gas of little continence, that meaningof little encumbrance, one or several airbags capable of absorbing theimpact by providing an especially vast volume of air. Thus, according tothe device of the invention, the entire human body can be protected inan especially short reaction time.

Other advantages and features will become clearer from the descriptionsof alternative means of operating that follow, given by way of exampleand non restrictive, of the safety device according to the invention andin reference to the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the safety deviceaccording to the invention in the inflated state;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of an embodiment of the safety deviceaccording to the invention represented in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view diagram of the safety device according to theinvention worn by a motorcyclist;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a valve of the safety device according to theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a valve of the safety device according to theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the safety deviceaccording to the invention placed on a ULM, in a deployed state;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the safety device according to the inventionrepresented in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a side airbag of the safety deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the front airbag of the safety deviceaccording to the invention.

In this non restrictive example, we describe a safety device comprisingan airbag made in cloth or like connected to inflating meansautomatically or manually activated so as to inflate said airbag at thetime of impact especially used to protect a motorcyclist or a ULM pilot;all the same, the safety device according to the invention has numerousapplications notably in the field of protection for people who practicehazardous activities or sports such as roofers, climbers, etc.

In reference to FIG. 1, the safety device according to the inventioncomprises an airbag 1 constituted of a frame 2 comprising longitudinaltubular elements 3, extending vertically in FIG. 1, and transversaltubular elements 4 in the shape of arcs whose ends are connected to thelongitudinal tubular elements 3, said longitudinal 3 and transversal 4tubular elements being made in an impervious and flexible material suchas coated cloth, rubber, polyurethane, or similar. When the longitudinal3 and transversal 4 tubular elements are inflated, at the time of impactwith an obstacle as we will see later on, as represented in FIG. 1, saidlongitudinal 3 and transversal 4 tubular elements form a cylindricalframe. The device further comprises an outer wall 5 made in a flexiblematerial such as cloth, preferably slightly pervious so as to avoid theexploding of the airbag at the time of an impact, integral with theframe 2 so as to form a closed cylindrical chamber filled with air atatmospheric pressure when the frame 2 is inflated as will be describedlater on.

It stands to reason that the frame 2 can comprise radial tubularelements and can consist of a single helical tubular element forexample, whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

To allow the filling of the closed chamber delimited by the outer wallof the airbag 1, in reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, said outer wall 5comprises, on the inside face of the cylinder, two valves 6 capable ofopening when the frame 2 is being inflated and of closing when theairbag 1 hits an obstacle. In reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, each valve 6consists of an orifice 7 of whatsoever shape, such as a square forexample, made in the outer wall 5 and of a check valve 8 integral withthe inside face of the outer wall 5 very slightly bigger than the sizeof the orifice 7, said check valve being capable of opening when thetubular elements inflate and closing at the time of impact. The checkvalve 8 consists, for example, of a square piece of impervious cloth ofwhich one of the sides is stitched along one of the sides of the orifice7 on the inside face of the outer wall 5.

It stands to reason that the check valve 8 can be integral with theinside face of the outer wall 5 by any appropriate means such as bondingor welding, whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

Ultimately, the device advantageously comprises a grill 9 partiallyobstructing the orifice 7 of the valve 6 so as to prevent the checkvalve 8 from falling through said orifice 7 at the time of impact withan obstacle. Moreover, in reference to FIG. 1, the device comprises amain stack 10 made in cloth or like extending from the inside face tothe upper face of the cylinder, preferably in a coaxial manner to thelatter, said main stack 10 being open at its two ends which are integralwith the outer wall 5. Additionally, the device comprises two secondarystacks 11 made in cloth or like extending in a radial manner from themain stack 10 to the outer wall 5, said secondary stacks 11 being openat their respective ends which are respectively integral with the mainstack 10 and the outer wall 5. The main stack 10 and the secondarystacks 11 are used to integrate the head, the bust and the legs of themotorcyclist and respectively the arms of said pilot, the pilot's bodybeing slipped inside said stacks constituted of a jacket when the airbag1 is not inflated, as will be described later on.

Ultimately, the device comprises, in reference to FIG. 1, a semicircularairbag 12 integral with the inner face of the central stack 10 levelwith the pilot's nape, said semicircular airbag 12 being suitable forinflating when the motorbike hits an obstacle so as to protect thepilot's nape.

In order to inflate the frame 2, the device comprises inflating means 13constituted of pyrotechnic means 14 connected to a longitudinal tubularelement 3 and a transversal tubular element 4 by a flexible tube 15, andpossibly a semicircular airbag 12, and in which the pyrotechnic meanswhose activation is ensured by a cable 16 fitted with a ring at itsloose end intended to be attached to an appropriate place of themotorbike so that when the motorbike hits an obstacle and the pilot isejected from said motorbike, the cable 16 is torn off releasing thestriker of the pyrotechnic means 14 so as to inflate the frame 2.

Of course, the pyrotechnic means 14 can be replaced by any otherequivalent means such as a carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) or diazonium (N₂)generator whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

Moreover, it stands to reason that the cable 16 fitted with a ring 17can be replaced by any other appropriate means of triggering such as anelectronic or remote control means of triggering.

In a particularly advantageous manner, in reference to FIG. 2, thedevice comprises, on the inside of the volume delimited by the outerwall 5 integral with the frame 2, intermediary inner walls 18 extendingin a radial manner from the central stack 10 to the outer wall 5 andvertically from the lower end to the upper end of the cylinder delimitedby said outer wall 5. These intermediary inner walls 18 are integralwith the inside face of the outer wall 5 or with the longitudinaltubular elements 3 of the frame 2, said intermediary inner walls 18being made integral by any appropriate means such as bonding, welding ora line of stitching. The outer wall 5 comprising, on the inside face ofthe cylinder, valves 6 respectively projecting into a compartmentdelimited by two successive intermediary inner walls 18 so as tosimultaneously inflate the compartments of the airbag 1 at the time ofimpact.

In a preferred embodiment of the safety device according to theinvention in reference to FIG. 3, the central stack 10 and the secondarystacks 11 consist in a jacket 19 more or less in the form of a T-shirtor a chasuble, capable of being slipped on by a motorcyclist, generallyby slipping the chasuble over the head with the arms raised, onto whichis interlocked by any appropriate means, that being via stitching,welding or bonding, the longitudinal 3 and transversal 4 tubularelements as well as the outer wall 5, not represented in FIG. 3, whichare folded and held in this folded state by two bits 20 a and 20 b,represented by dotted lines, made in flexible and light weight clothsuch as cloth containing Lycra (registered trademark), placed on eitherside of the chasuble 19, that being on the back and torso of the pilot,said bits of cloth 20 a and 20 b being interlocked at the pilot'sshoulders and side of torso via buckle and fastener means of attachment21 such as Velcro (registered trademark). Thus, when the motorcyclistwho has already slipped the chasuble 19 on hits an obstacle, the latteris ejected from his machine provoking the tearing off of the cable 16which releases the striker of the pyrotechnic means 14 connected to thelongitudinal 3 and transversal 4 tubular elements which, when underpressure inflate, deploying the frame 2 by filling the volume delimitedby the outer wall 5 with air. The deploying of the frame 2 produces thetearing off of the bits of cloth 20 a and 20 b which maintained thetubular elements 3 and 4 of the frame 2 as well as the outer wall 5 inthe folded state.

According to an embodiment of the safety device in compliance with theinvention, in the field of ULM aircraft, that being ultra lightmotorised aircraft, in reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, usually constituted ofa tubular chassis 101 comprising a longitudinal central tube 102equipped with a steering wheel 103 at the front in free rotation andequipped with pedals 104 onto which the aircraft pilot rests his feet, aseat 105 in its central location onto which the pilot sits, a reardriving axle integral with the rear section 106 of said longitudinalcentral tube 102 and struts 107 and 108 respectively integral with thefront and rear ends of said central tube 102 onto which a hang glider109 is swivel mounted capable of being piloted by a control frame 110.The device comprises a front airbag 111 and two side airbags 112 a and112 b used to protect the pilot at the time of impact. The front airbag111, represented by dotted lines, and the two side airbags 112 a and 112b, represented by dot and dash lines, are initially contained in acasing integral with the front section of the ULM, preferably on thelongitudinal central tube 102 of the ULM. The device further comprisesmeans of inflating 113 consisting of a bottle 114 of compressed carbondioxide gas or like located at the rear of the pilot's seat 105 capableof being activated via manual or electric means of activation 115 suchas a switch within hand's-reach of the pilot so that the latter canactivate the safety device prior to impact.

In reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the front airbag 111 and the side airbags112 a and 112 b are constituted of, on one hand, a frame 2 comprisinglongitudinal 3 and transversal 4 tubular elements connected together soas to form a generally parallelepiped frame 2 when said tubular elementsare inflated and, on the other hand, an outer wall 5 made in flexiblecloth integral with the frame 2 so as to form a closed chamber filledwith air at atmospheric pressure, said outer wall 5 comprising at leasta valve 6 such as is described above which opens when the frame 2 isinflated and which closes at the time of impact. In the same manner asabove, the device can comprise, on the inside of the volume delimited bythe outer wall integral with the frame 2, at least an intermediary innerwall 18, represented by dotted lines in FIG. 8, integral with the insideface of the outer wall 5 and/or the frame 2, said outer wall 5 beingequipped with at least a valve 6 projecting into the volume delimited bythe intermediary inner wall 18 and which opens when the frame isinflated and which closes at the time of impact. In this non restrictiveembodiment, in reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the front airbag 111 is, wheninflated, generally trapezoidal and the side airbags 112 a and 112 b aregenerally parallelepiped.

It stands to reason that the front airbag 111 and the side airbags 112 aand 112 b can be of whatsoever shape such as spherical, cylindrical,hemispherical, etc. whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

We noticed that the gas contained inside the airbag is essentiallyconstituted of air at atmospheric pressure so that the device accordingto the invention can advantageously be used by hikers or skiersoff-piste in the event of being buried by an avalanche where the air ofthe airbag will advantageously ensure the survival of the hikers.

Finally, it is obvious that the safety device according to the inventioncan be used by firemen as a means of catching a falling body, by sportspeople such as those who practise climbing, canyonning or paragliding orby those who conduct hazardous activities and can be used with any meansof transport, such as motorbikes, aeroplanes, cars, etc. and that theexamples we have just given are only specific illustrations in no wayrestrictive as to the fields of application of the invention.

1. Safety device disassociated or integral with a means of transport,with its pilot's body or with the body of any other person practising ahazardous sport or activity to protect said body, comprising an airbag(1, 111, 112 a, 112 b) or similar connected to inflating means (13)automatically or manually activated so as to inflate said airbag uponimpact, characterised in that the airbag (1) is, on one hand,constituted of a frame (2) comprising at least a tubular element so asto form a cylindrical, spherical, parallelepiped or like frame (2), whenthe tubular element (3, 4) is inflated, said tubular element (3, 4)being initially folded in a container integral, for example, with themeans of transport and/or the human body and connected to the inflatingmeans (13) and, on the other hand, of an outer wall (5) made of aflexible material integral with the frame (2) so as to form a closedchamber filled with air at atmospheric pressure, said outer wall (5)comprising at least a valve (6) which opens when the frame (2) is beinginflated and which closes at the time of impact.
 2. Safety device setforth in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises, on the inside ofthe volume delimited by the outer wall (5) integral with the frame (2),at least an intermediary inner wall (18) integral with the inside faceof the outer wall (5) and/or the frame (2), said outer wall (5) beingequipped with at least a valve (6) projecting into the volume delimitedby the intermediary inner wall (18) and which opens when the frame (2)is inflated and which closes at the time of impact.
 3. Safety device setforth in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least a mainstack (10) made in cloth or like which extends from two faces oppositethe outer wall (5), said stack (10) being open at its two ends which areintegral with said outer wall (5).
 4. Safety device set forth in claim3, characterised in that it comprises at least a secondary stack (11)made in cloth or like which extends from the main stack (10) to theouter wall (5), said secondary stack (11) being open at its two endswhich are respectively integral with the main stack (10) and the outerwall (5).
 5. Safety device set forth in claim 1, characterised in thatthe valve (6) consists, on one hand, of an orifice (7) made in the outerwall (5) and, on the other hand, of a check valve (8) integral with theinside face of the outer wall (5) and which is very slightly bigger thanthe orifice (7), said check valve (8) being capable of opening when thetubular elements (3, 4) inflate and closing at the time of impact. 6.Safety device set forth in claim 5, characterised in that it comprises agrill (9) partially obstructing the orifice (7) of the valve (6). 7.Safety device set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the inflatingmeans (13) consists of a bottle of compressed gas (114).
 8. Safetydevice set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the inflating means(13) consist of pyrotechnic means (14).
 9. Implementing of the safetydevice set forth in claim 1, to a ULM type flying apparatus comprising afront airbag (111) and two side airbags (112 a and 112 b).
 10. Safetydevice set forth in claim 2, characterised in that it comprises at leasta main stack (10) made in cloth or like which extends from two facesopposite the outer wall (5), said stack (10) being open at its two endswhich are integral with said outer wall (5).
 11. Safety device set forthin claim 10, characterised in that it comprises at least a secondarystack (11) made in cloth or like which extends from the main stack (10)to the outer wall (5), said secondary stack (11) being open at its twoends which are respectively integral with the main stack (10) and theouter wall (5).